World leaders focus on North Korea in D.C. nuclear security summit

South Korean President Park Geun-hye said pressure is necessary to deter Pyongyang.

U.S. President Barack Obama attends a trilateral meeting with President Park Geun-hye of South Korea and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Pool Photo by Dennis Brack/UPI | License Photo

U.S. President Barack Obama attends a trilateral meeting with South Korean President Park Geun-hye and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Pool Photo by Dennis Brack/UPI | License Photo

U.S. President Barack Obama attends a trilateral meeting with South Korean President Park Geun-hye and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Pool Photo by Dennis Brack/UPI | License Photo

WASHINGTON, March 31 (UPI) -- South Korea's president promised to step up pressure on North Korea if that's what it takes to curb Kim Jong Un's nuclear program.

President Park Geun-hye, who is in Washington, D.C., for a biennial nuclear security summit, said in an interview with Bloomberg North Korea is headed down a dangerous path.

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"North Korea would self-destruct if it continues to test nuclear weapons," she said.

South Korea has implemented several measures since the North announced its fourth "successful" nuclear test and subsequently launched a satellite for "peaceful" purposes.

The South Korean president said the restrictions would continue. As long as North Korea continues its provocations, sanctions rather than talks are the "only way to ultimately achieve genuine peace by inducing changes in the North," Park said.

Seoul government officials have also said the North is preparing to conduct a fifth nuclear test.